Firefighters pants with insulated cushion knee

Abstract

A pocket formed on the inside of the knees of a pair of firefighters pants supports a plurality of flexible gas-filled modules which are unconnected to one another and are disposed in abutting relationship to provide a continuous cushion and thermal barrier over the knee cap and surrounding knee area of a firefighter. A detachable closure closes the pocket and allows individual modules to be removed and replaced.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Firefighters pants including a torso portion, a pair of leg portions connected to said torso portion, each of said leg portions having a knee portion for covering the knee cap and surrounding knee area of a firefighter, each of said knee portions including a flexible knee cushion and thermal protection means comprising a plurality of flexible substantially gas-tight modules, said modules being unconnected to one another and being disposed in abutting relationship to one another to provide a substantially continuous cushion and thermal barrier over the knee cap and surrounding knee area of a firefighter and permitting individual ones of said modules to be removed and replaced, and pocket means within each knee portion for supporting said modules in position. 
     
     
       2. Firefighters pants as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said modules has a hollow interior and includes a gas inlet port and a one-way check valve for introducing gas into the interior of the module. 
     
     
       3. Firefighters pants as defined in claim 1 including detachable closure means for closing said pocket while allowing the cushioning means to be removed and replaced.